N.S.W. COAL STRIKE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2707, 11 January 1910, Page 5

N.S.W. COAL STRIKE.

AN INFLAMMATORY SPEECH. Uniteu Puksh Association—Copyright. SYDNEY, -Jan. 10. At a meeting of Newcastle miners strong speeches were made against Mr. Wade's new Act, and the prosecution of union leaders. One speaker advised that if necessary they should get arms or take Wade out and shoot him. Voices: Then do it. The Dean of Newcastle, amid a storm of interruptions, mounted the platform. He protested that the speakers did not represent the thinking portion of the people of the district. Such speeches, he said, justified the Government in taking legal action.

THE WAGES BOARD—ANOTHER ADJOURNMENT.

(Received January 10, 10.40 p.m.)

The Compulsory Wages Board resumed its sittings at Newcastle to-day. Mr. Bowling said that since the preTious sitting three weeks ago events had occured and- summonses had been issued. Those, developments had distracted, perhaps incensed, the minds of the miners, and prevented them coming to a decision on the question of whether they would be represented by the Board. He also again raised the question of the Board’s jurisdiction. The chairman ruled that the Board had jurisdiction. Mr. Bowling then asked for time for the Miners’ Federation to consider the chairman’s ruling, and' the Board adjourned till January 24th.

WESTPORT MINERS HELP THE STRIKERS.

rPr.it Press Association.! WESTPORT, Jan. 10. The Granity Coal Miners’ Union voted £l5O for the Newcastle miners’ strike fund, in addition to one shilling per week levied by tue Miners’ Federation.

STRIKE LEADERS AND STRIKERS

Some aspects of the New South Wales coal-miners’ strike are rather .startling. Commenting on the unhappy position of the children of the miners who, owing to the strike, would necessarily in most cases be deprived) of their customary Christmas pleasures, “Liberty and Progress,” an anti-So-cialistie journal published at Melbourne, contrasts the position of leaders of the strike with that of the men themselves. . , When the [miners] association s cheque book was brought into Court, states the journal mentioned, entries were road which showed that a printing firm had received £IOO, presumably for work done which, under the new Act, will not be legal; that the president received £36 for salary to November 16, besides travelling expenses £9 103 sd; and the secretary a salary of £4 per week; other entries showing Gray salary (two weeks) £o and travelling expenses £9 14s Bd, and so on, with management expenses £SO. Altogether six officials had received £9O besides the printing bill of £IOO. . . A sum of £9O, equal to that • divided l amongst six officials, was allotted to the Mount Keira Lodge for distribution amongst its members. But. says the official report, “as it would only pan out about 6s 6d per man, it was decided to utilise it only in cases of actual distress.” As 6s 6d per man implies that there were 277 claimants it will he readily seen that one official is equal, in the eye of the distributois, to 46 common members. . . Moreover, when Mr. Bowling was arrested, he actually had 48 sovereigns loose in his pockets. These, at his request, were handed over to his wife.